Birthday month

January is birthday month at our house for four out of five of us... so the banner went up at the beginning of January (as soon as the Christmas stuff came down) and it will stay up until the very end of January.
June's birthday was first.

She had a baby-Dora-chicken nugget-themed birthday party.  With a pink cake.

Alli turned eight this year.  This is a milestone year because she was baptized!  (That deserves its own post... soon!)


She had a delicious carrot cake shaped like an eight... but her little cousin got his paws on it (and the pan of brownies too).


My birthday was great.  I did my traditional birthday pushups.  I have been training for them since November... and I rocked 'em!  The girls made breakfast in bed for me.
I found a heart drawn on the wall... made from a booger.  Super special.
Andy's birthday is today.  He did birthday pushups too (but he didn't even have to train for them... I guess he is still young enough). 

It has been a fun month, but I am glad to wait a few more months until the next birthday.

Birthday ride...

Our little Junebug turned 3 this week! 

To celebrate her big day (and the gorgeous weather), we went for a ride around the block (actually, she was the only one riding.  I was paparazzi.)

Did you know June dresses herself?

And puts her own shoes on.  She likes to be independent.

Can you see the determination in her eyes?  She rode around our entire block.  By herself.

Except by the house with the dog out in the yard.  I carried her and her trike and the camera past the waggly-tailed monster.



Saturday we took the show to the school playground.
Off into the sunset...

The rest of the crew.

PS- Ruby is learning to ride without training wheels... note the new holes in her pants. 

Christmas Eve

We don't really play up the Santa thing at our house.  We talk about Santa as a fun tradition.  Even with our lukewarm Santa atmosphere, the girls were really excited to see Santa at the annual gathering of my mom's family on Christmas Eve.



(Years from now June will regret ripping out the clip I put in her hair.)


(And that is my darling nephew Bruce photobombing everyone's Santa pictures.)



The gathering is so large it is held in the gym of the church.  We set up tables and chairs for 100.  They were filled.  There was enough food for 200 people.


Grandma and Grandpa Ohio set up a giant bounce house for the kids.  And an xBox.  And a movie screen.  And a craft table.
My cousin painted nails...

BEST PARTY EVER!



Fun was had by all...

O Christmas Tree

We bought this lovely tree last year off of good ol' Craigslist.  It is big and somewhat lifelike.  It is somewhat pre-lit.  (Last year it was more pre-lit.)  This year a few strands of lights have lost their shine, so a few more strands were tucked into the branches.
We don't really have a theme to our tree... or maybe the theme is "stuff we like."

Our tree started out evenly decorated... the ornaments were spaced neatly around the tree.
And then the girls rearranged the ornaments...


By Christmas day, most ornaments were hung above the reach of Ruby and June... making our tree appear a bit top-heavy.
Oh well.
The ornaments are sort of magical.
My favorite childhood ornament...


From Andy's boyhood...


I made this from a map of the Chicago CTA.


And there are plenty of our kids' ornaments and antiques and fun momentos covering our tree.

Soon it will be time to take this tree down and tuck away all the little treasures until next year. 
Without the tree around, I guess the kids will have to go back to getting into mischief with other stuff. 

take a bow

Have I told you that Alli is taking violin lessons?  It's true. 
She has learned a zillion variations of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
She had her first recital at the beginning of December.  She played Twinkle wonderfully. 
And now we are all looking forward to her working on other tunes. 

Bread and Butter

This afternoon, I heard the PPPSSSTT of the bus' brakes, and I stepped outside to meet Alli and Ruby as they came home from school.  June sometimes comes outside with me.  Not today.  She was busy.

June was making something for Daddy all by herself.
When I came back inside, the bread was smothered in butter.  Thick.

She knows how to butter up her Daddy.
June was so proud of herself.  And I must say, she did a great job.  She did it neat and pretty even.  So I got the camera...
"Smile."  Click.

And see the shirt she is wearing?  It says "I (heart) Daddy!"  It is her favorite shirt.

Alli and Ruby were interested in June's creation.  June told them it was for her Daddy!  They teased her, which didn't go over well, and I had to put the special slice of bread back on the counter where it couldn't be reached... and I was charged with keeping it safe until Daddy came home.

And, oh was June excited when Daddy came home!

Daddy shared his butter, and we spread it on ten slices of bread... and we had garlic bread with our dinner.

Happy Monday!

Monday... gray skies... overdue books... mountain 'o laundry...Andy's car is in the shop... blah.

And so I need to think about the things I am thankful for...

• I am thankful for music.  Alli can play a song on the violin!  She is one month into lessons, and she is a master of "Mary Had a Little Lamb!"
• I am thankful that June's birthday is getting closer.  June talks about her birthday every single day.  She has serious plans.  And I am glad she won't have to wait too much longer.
• I am thankful for imagination.  Ruby draws pictures everyday and presents them to me.  Sometimes I find her art taped to the walls and windows.  She is so creative and prolific!
• I am thankful for talents.  I didn't know all the talents Andy had when we got married (or maybe he didn't really have those talents just yet).  Andy is finishing a room in our basement.  He built the stud walls, wired the outlets and lights and switches, put up drywall... the man has skills.
• I am thankful for my family, our kids, my parents and siblings, in-laws, grandparents... they are all good people and there is a lot of love... and many will be here for Thanksgiving in a few days!